CSW – Forty-Second Session – Press release

Commission on the Status of Women
Forty-second Session
9th Meeting (AM)

COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN CONTINUES TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTATION
    OF BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

  The Commission on the  Status of Women this  morning heard about  progress
made  in the  implementation  of the  Beijing  Platform for  Action  at  the
national  level,  as  it  resumed  consideration  of  the implementation  of
strategic objectives and action in the critical areas of concern.

  Speakers drew attention to action that had  been taken in their  countries
in  the  areas   of  legislative  reform,  education,  health,   employment,
awarenessraising campaigns,  as  well as  in  the  creation of  an  enabling
environment for the advancement of women.   They outlined initiatives  aimed
at eliminating gender-based discrimination against women and the girl  child
and  to ensure women's  greater participation  in the  social, political and
economic mainstream.

  Many delegates  informed that national plans  had been  developed with the
participation of all  sectors of society.   The representative of  Sri Lanka
said  preparation  of  her  country's  national   plan  had  relied  on  the
participation   of   government  officials,   non-government  organizations,
private  sector representatives  and  donors  who  were  active  on  women's
issues.

  The development of national  machinery had also been high on the agenda of
many member  States, the Commission was  told, and included  the creation of
ministries  with  responsibility  for women  and  children's  issues.    The
representative of  Lithuania said the  country's recent equal  opportunities
law would establish an ombudsman for women's issues.

  A  number of speakers  continued to  express grave  concern about violence
against women.  The representative of Pakistan  said that it was regrettable
that  on the  brink of the new millennium, various forms of violence against
women  and girls persisted in many parts of the world.   There was an urgent
need  to develop comprehensive  approaches, taking  into account  social and
cultural norms in each society in order to address the problem on a priority

basis.

  Statements  were also  made  by  the  representatives of  Cuba,  Malaysia,
Russian Federation, Iraq,  Paraguay, Morocco, Argentina, Ethiopia,  Lebanon,
Jordan,  Uganda, India,  Algeria, Mali,  Austria, Nigeria  and El  Salvador.
The  observer for Palestine also  spoke.  The  representative of China spoke
on a point of order.

  Representatives of  the  Economic  Commission  for Africa  (ECA)  and  the
Economic and Social Commission for  Western Asia (ESCWA) also  spoke, as did
representatives  of   the  Inter-Parliamentary  Union  (IPU),  International
Council of Women, and the NGO Caucus on Women and Armed Conflict.

  The Commission  will meet again  at 3 p.m.  today to  conclude its general

discussion on implementing the Beijing Platform for Action.

  Commission Work Programme

  The  Commission on the Status of  Women met this morning to   continue its
general  discussion on  follow-up to  the  1995  Fourth World  Conference on
Women, including implementation  of strategic objectives  and action  on the
critical areas  of  concern  in  the  Beijing  Platform for  Action.    (For
background information  on the  session, see  Press Release  WOM/1029 of  27
February.)

  The Commission  has before it two  reports of the Secretary-General on the
thematic  issues  before  the  session  and  on  national  action  plans and
strategies from 85 Member States for  implementing the Beijing Platform  for
Action, as  well as a joint  report of the  Division for  the Advancement of
Women of  the Department of Economic  and Social Affairs  and the Office  of
the United  Nations  High Commissioner  for  Human  Rights on  women's  real
enjoyment of  their human rights, in  particular those  relating to economic
resources.

  The Secretary-General's  analytical report on  the thematic issues  before
the  Commission   (document  E/CN.6/1998/5)  provides  recommendations   and
conclusions of  expert group meetings convened  during 1997  by the Division
for the  Advancement of  Women on  three of  the critical  areas of  concern
being examined up by the Commission during this session — "women and  armed
conflict", "human rights of  women" and "the girl  child".  The  report also
provides some proposals on the theme of violence against women.

  The Secretary-General's  report on  national action  plans and  strategies
from  85  Member  States  implementing  the  Beijing   Platform  for  Action
(document E/CN.6/1998/6)  provides a  regional breakdown  of countries  that
had  prepared such plans.  It  shows that 29  per cent of Member States from
Africa have submitted  plans, as well as 41  per cent of  the countries from
Asia and  the Pacific, 38  per cent from  Eastern Europe, 41  per cent  from
Latin America and the  Caribbean and 66 per  cent from Western  European and
Other States.

  The joint report  of the Division  for the  Advancement of  Women and  the
Office  of the  High Commissioner on  women's real enjoyment  of their human
rights,  in  particular  those  relating  to  economic  resources  (document
E/CN.6/1998/11),  also provides  recommendations and  conclusions of  expert
group meetings convened during 1997 by the  Division for the Advancement  of
Women on  three of  the critical  areas  of concern  being taken  up by  the
Commission.

  Also  before  the  Commission  are  reports  of the  Secretary-General  on
mainstreaming  a  gender  perspective  and  other  follow-up  activities  by
organizations of  the United  Nations system  (document E/CN.6/1998/2);  the
joint work plan of the Division for the Advancement of  Women and the Office
of  the   United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Human  Rights  (document
E/CN.6/1998/2/Add.1);  the  situation of  Palestinian  women  and assistance
provided  by   organizations  of   the  United   Nations  system   (document
E/CN.6/1998/2/Add.2); a mid-term review of the system-wide medium-term  plan
for  the  advancement of  women, 1996-2001  (document E/CN.6/1998/3);  and a
report on improvement  of the status of  women in the Secretariat  (document
E/CN.6/1998/8).

  The  Commission  also  has  before  it  a  note  by  the Secretary-General
transmitting information  provided by  the United  Nations Development  Fund
for  Women (UNIFEM)  on the  implementation  of General  Assembly resolution
50/166 on  the  Fund's role in eliminating violence against women  (document
E/CN.6/1998/9).    (For  background on  those  reports,  see  Press  Release
WOM/1038 of 5 March).

  Statements

  W. HETTIARACHCHI  (Sri Lanka) said that  since the  Beijing Conference the
Ministry of  Women's Affairs in Sri  Lanka had prepared  a National Plan  of
Action  for Women.   The  plan sought  to  identify  problems and  issues in
several areas of critical concern to  Sri Lanka, including violence  against
women,  women and  armed  conflict, political  participation  and  decision-
making, health,  education and  training, economic  activities and  poverty.
It  was  the country's  first attempt  to  formulate an  integrated plan  of
action targeted to mainstream women as participants and beneficiaries.

  Preparation   of  the  national   plan  relied  on  the  participation  of
government   officials,   non-governmental  organizations,   private  sector
representatives and  donors who  were active  on women's  issues, she  said.
The  Ministry  of  Women's  Affairs  had  established  focal  points  in all
Ministries   that   could  provide   linkage   and   catalyze   the   plan's
implementation  and monitoring.   With  the  support  of United  Nations and
funding agencies,  the Ministry  was able  to initiate  many programmes  and
heighten greater awareness of gender issues.   However, that process  needed
to  be accelerated in  order to  have a  strong impact on  the problems that
faced women.

  FAIZA KEFI, of the Inter-Parliamentary  Union (IPU), said her organization
was continuing  to follow up on the recommendations of  the Beijing Platform
for  Action.    It   was  the  duty  of  parliamentarians  to  approve   the
implementation  of  the  Platform for  Action and  appropriate  resources to
ensure that  the commitment  to the  advancement of  women was expressed  in
national legislation.   The IPU would open  a liaison office  in New York to
improve  its  communications   with  international  organizations   and  its
contribution to the work  being done in  the United Nations in the  interest
of its Members.

  Elaborating on recent achievements of  the Union, she said  it had adopted
a universal declaration on democracy between men  and women to promote  such
a  democratic  approach  in carrying  out public  affairs;  promoted women's
participation  in public life;  published a  number of  documents on women's
participation;  and set  up an  Internet  site  on women's  participation in
parliaments around the world.  In  addition, the organization had  developed
a  bibliography on  literature  on  women  in  parliament.   At  its  annual
sessions, the Union debated  the issues in the Platform for Action and  such
subjects as women and armed conflict.   The subject of women in the informal
sector would be taken up at a forthcoming session.  The Union would  provide
support  to  the  relevant  United  Nations  organizations  as  part  of its
contribution to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

  YOLANDA FERRER (Cuba) said the issues of the advancement of women and  the
implementation  of  the   Beijing  Platform  for  Action  were  of   seminal
importance.   The Commission  was responsible  for treating  those issues in
depth in the interest  of women's progress.  The interrelated nature of  all
human rights,  including the right to  development, must be  stressed.  Cuba
joined with those who engaged  in the fight  for all human rights.   Despite
the end of the cold  war, resources were still being  allocated to arms  and
nuclear   weapons.   Those resources should be  targeted at improving social
and economic aspects of  life, including health care.  It was also important
to   address  problems   such  as   prostitution  and   child   pornography,
discrimination  against girls and  the obstacles  to their  development.  If
the  international  community did  not implement  the  Beijing Platform  for
Action, there would be no progress for women.

  The international blockade against Cuba was  detrimental to the people  of
Cuba  and the  advancement of  Cuban women,  she said.   It  ran  counter to
international law and the  United Nations Charter and  was intended to  have
negative  impact on  the independence  of  the Cuban  people.   Despite  the
blockade,  however, the well-being  of the Cuban people  had been a priority
of  the Government  of Cuba,  including emphasis  on giving women  the place
they deserved in society.

  MUNAWAR SAEED  BHATTI (Pakistan) said that it was regrettable  that on the
brink of  the new millennium,  various forms of  violence against women  and
girls persisted in many parts of the world.  That problem was  intrinsically
linked with women's lower social and economic status  in the family as  well
as in  the community.   There  was an  urgent need to  develop comprehensive
approaches, taking  into account social and  cultural norms  in each society
in order to address the problem on a priority basis.

  Recent events had  shown that violence against women had become more stark
and profound  in situations  of armed  conflict and  foreign occupation,  he
said.  What had happened  in Bosnia and  Herzegovina and in the Great  Lakes
region  of Africa  were  still  fresh memories.    In his  own  region,  the
disputed state  of Jammu  and Kashmir —  where people  were struggling  for
their right to self-determination — women  and girls had been  persistently
subjected to  "gross state-sponsored  violence" by  Indian security  forces.
Sexual violence and systematic  rape had been used as a strategy of war.  In
many instances, women were  raped in the presence  of male family members to
punish and humiliate the Kashmiri people.

  He  said  that  the  Government of  Pakistan  had undertaken  a  number of
initiatives aimed at  eliminating gender-based discrimination  against women
and  the  girl child  and to  ensure  women's  greater participation  in the
social,  political and  economic mainstream.   Those  included  a nationwide
media  campaign,  a  review of  school  curriculums,  the  harmonization  of
legislative,  judicial   and  administrative   government  structures,   the
establishment of a human  rights cell to  assist women victims of  violence,
the  establishment of  free legal  aid  centres  and women  police stations.
With a long way to  go in achieving the full empowerment and integration  of
women  and  the  girl  child  in   the  national  mainstream,  Pakistan  was
determined to continue efforts towards that goal.    

  SOMAIA  BARGHOUTI, observer  for Palestine,  said that  since  the Beijing
Conference,  little had  been achieved  towards  the advancement  of  women,
particularly  in the  areas of  literacy, equal  pay and  the  prevention of
violence  against  women.    The  Beijing  Platform  for  Action  should  be
transformed into  a meaningful document.  That required the formulation of a
concrete  mechanism, as well  as resources  to promote  implementation.  The
advancement of  women  and their  full  integration  could not  be  realized
without peace, freedom and democracy.   Those prerequisites were most urgent
for  Palestinian women    whose daily  lives  had been  affected  and  whose
advancement  had been impeded by Israeli occupation.  The number of refugees
and displaced children had increased, and Palestinian women had  experienced
an overall decline in the economic, health and education spheres.

  Despite those impediments,  Palestinian women were seriously pursuing  the
creation of an enabling environment for their advancement, she said.   Their
mission  was  to  ensure  that Palestinian  policies  and  legislation  were
gender-sensitive and  took into  account  the needs  of both  men and women.
Especially  given the  deterioration of  the  peace process,  resulting from
Israeli  actions  in  the  occupied  territories,   it  was  time  for   the
international  community, especially  the  United Nations,  to  continue  to
support and increase its assistance to Palestinian women in their struggle.

  PNINA HERZOG,  International Council  of Women,  said that  the status  of
women was intertwined  with the perceptions of  them in the  environments in
which  they  lived.    Too  often   violence  against  them  maintained  and
reinforced  their subordination.   Therefore,  that phenomenon  could not be
dealt with in isolation, but should be looked  at in a holistic,  integrated

way,  taking into consideration  all the  factors that  shaped their status.
Violence in general and violence against women had become a pandemic in  all
countries and in  all societies.   Much had been done by  the United Nations
to bring the situation to the attention of the international community,  and
hundreds   of  organizations   worldwide   had  spearheaded   a   range   of
initiatives  —   including  safe  houses  and  shelters,  and  other  local
community  measures.  While those  were very important  answers, it was very
difficult to cure violence.

  Each  year  thousands of  women  were  tricked,  forced  and coerced  into
slavery and  prostitution,  she said.   Tens  of millions  of children  were
forced to  work in  sex markets,  where they  faced treacherous  conditions.
What  had been done  so far was not sufficient.   More drastic and effective
outcome-based  measures must  be taken  by governments  under strict  United
Nations  surveillance.  For  example, trafficking  in women  should be dealt
with as  a criminal  offence —  not just  in a  few countries,  but in  all
countries.  The United Nations should take the lead in breaking the  pattern
of trafficking  and in  penalizing offenders,  and Member  States should  be
required to prove to  the United Nations  that they had established laws  to
prevent trafficking.

  Moreover, the  Commission  and  non-governmental organizations  must  give
priority  to the  prevention of  violence  against  women and  children, she
said. Efforts must begin at a very early  age — in kindergartens,  vocation
schools,  community centres and  the workplaces  — at  all levels  of civil
society.  The young must be involved in programmes for the young,  beginning
with  the  smallest  unit of  society,  the  family.    The  media played  a
tremendous role in influencing attitudes, including  negative ones.  In that
regard,  the Commission might wish  to further study  the effect of violence
in the media and on  the Internet on young people.   She called on  all non-
governmental organizations  to join the  International Council  of Women  in
its fight  to combat trafficking  in women, and  urged governments to  enact
laws that would classify such activities as criminal offences.

  SHARIFAH ZARAH  SYED AHMAD  (Malaysia) highlighted  progress  made in  her
country  in  its  efforts  to  integrate   women  into  the  mainstream   of
development. A national plan  of action on the advancement of women had been
approved  by the    country's  cabinet in  1996.   It  was  a  comprehensive
document  that included  programmes  and strategies  that  strengthened  the
national  machinery, established  mechanisms  for the  enforcement  of  laws
against   domestic   violence,   public   education   efforts   and   gender
sensitization  training.   The national  machinery  had  been upgraded  to a
full-fledged department.  There had been  considerable progress on the issue
of domestic  violence against women.   It was now dealt  with as a  criminal
offence  with appropriate  penalties.   Law enforcement  personnel had  been
urged to pursue more effective measures to address violence against women.

  There had been increased inter-agency  action, including among  the police
and the health  agencies, for hospitals to be  used as a more neutral  place
to treat  victims  of  violence, she  said.   Malaysia  had pursued  special
training for investigators in dealing with rape victims.   A new act adopted
ensured the rights of  women to inheritance.   Islamic laws were also  being
reviewed in  accordance with  the principles  of social  justice and  gender
equity.  Malaysia's   earlier  reservations   to  the   Convention  on   the
Elimination   of  All  Forms   of  Discrimination  against  Women  had  been
withdrawn.   The Government  was  in the  process of  preparing its  initial
report to the Committee on the  Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
The Malaysian  Government would ensure  that the human  rights of  women and
girls were promoted.   On the girl  child, she said  the problem  of missing
children  and adolescents and their  abuse had been seriously addressed.  On
women  and armed  conflict, she  said all  governments had an  obligation to

deal with  conflict and  war and  promote the  pursuit of  peace.   Malaysia
supported peace initiatives worldwide, as peace  was a prerequisite for  the
advancement of women.

  GALINA GULKO  (Russian Federation) said the  Platform for  Action had been

well received in  her country.   Based on  it, the Russian Federation  had a
national  plan  of action  that  laid  the  basis for  government  action to
implement the  provisions of the Constitution  and the  Beijing Platform for
Action to  promote equality  of men  and women.   The plan  complemented the
action of the state  agencies to achieve the objectives of the Platform  for
Action.   In addition, the  Government had adopted  a number  of measures to
promote economic  improvements for  women.    At the  same time,  there  was
concern in her country for developments  that negatively affected women  and
children  such  as  the  high  mortality   rate,  the  decrease  in  women's
employment and incidents of harsh treatment of women in the family.

  The national plan was  being implemented at the  local and federal levels,
she said.   Action was also being taken to ensure equality of rights for men
and women, on which legislation would be developed  in parliament.  Equality
of  opportunity  was  being  promoted  for  women  and  men  in  employment.
Programmes for  the training and retraining  of unemployed  women were being
implemented.   A legislative  draft was  being prepared  on violence against
women in the family, and centres were being  established for the support  of
victims of violence. She elaborated on progress  of women in attaining  high
office in the  Russian Federation.   She announced that  a conference  would
soon be  held in  her country  on improving  the situation  of women  there,
which would  also address the implementation of the national plan of action,
adding that  her country  faced the  problem of  insufficient funds for  the
implementation of the plan of action.

  MOHAMMED  A.M. AL-HUMAIMIDI (Iraq)  said the  national action  plan to the
year  2000  on improving  the status  of Iraqi  women was  being implemented
based on the  principles of the Iraqi  Constitution and the Islamic Shariah,
Iraqi  traditions and international law.   Women in  Iraq occupied very high
posts and the number  of women in educational  and other social  sectors had
increased in past  decades.  Women  had taken every  opportunity to  improve
their situation  and had  enjoyed maternity and  child care  leave.   Health
services and maternal and child care were provided  even in the most  remote
areas of the country.

  The embargo  in force  on Iraq  had negative  impacts on  the country  and
particularly on  women and  children, he  said.   It had undermined  all the
earlier achievements.  The economic situation  had deteriorated.  Women  had
given  up  their  jobs  to  devote their  energies  to  providing for  their
families' basic  needs.  There  was a  lack of commodities,  including basic
goods.   Many  women  were  now anaemic  and  their rate  of  mortality  had
increased, including  that  of pregnant  women.    Women and  children  were
malnourished.  Infant mortality  had increased to a high number as  compared
with figures  in the  late 1980s.   Diseases  had increased  and caused  the
death of young children.  The death rate had increased by 25 per  cent  from

the  late 1980s.   Those  developments ran counter to all  the international

efforts  to  improve  the social and economic environment.  He called for an

end to the embargo against his country.

  AUDRA MIKALAUSKAITE (Lithuania)  said that she associated herself with the
statement  made by the United Kingdom  on behalf of the European Union.  The
Fourth World  Conference on  Women had  united  Lithuania's women,  inspired
them to work,  and  motivated the  founding of  more women  non-governmental

organizations (NGOs).  In  addition, the Government had ratified  the action

plan for  the  advancement  of  women  in  Lithuania,  and  a  law  on equal

opportunities was under consideration  in the Parliament.  The establishment

of an ombudsman was included in the proposed equal opportunities law.

   Owing  to the  socio-economic transition  in  Lithuania  and the  lack of
legal  remedies, more  and  more  young  girls and  women  were forced  into
prostitution, she said.  Trafficking in women and  girls for the purpose  of
sexual exploitation in the  region of central and eastern  Europe was acute.

In order to reduce that negative phenomenon, the Government had introduced a

new article of the Penal Code dealing with crimes related  to  prostitution.

Strict  prosecution measures  were  applied for the  perpetrators of  sexual

abuse of children.

  Although the legal system had historically  focused on penalties for  such
crimes, new trends  were emerging that  shifted the focus to  the prevention
of crime and the introduction of  probation,  she  said.   For  example, the
Lithuanian  Crime   Prevention  Centre  was  founded   in  1997  to   assist
governmental structures.  Combating violence required complex measures  that

included   the establishment of crisis centres for abused women.   There was

also an urgent need to further overhaul policies  to include the enforcement

of social  and legal reforms,  more  shelters  for battered women, and  more

protective  laws and education.  The  transition  to  a  market  economy  in

Lithuania impacted upon the protection  of  the  human  rights   of   women.

Government   institutions,  international organizations and women themselves

could help  close  the  remaining gap between the legal and actual status of

women.

  CRISTINA  MUNOZ (Paraguay)  said that  since  she  had last  addressed the
Commission, Paraguay had continued to progress  towards updating a number of
activities towards  elevating  the status  of  women.   The  first  national
seminar on women had  achieved consensus on the strategies to be  developed,
had identified  the actors with decision-making  power and  given them parts
to  play in keeping  with their  role in society.   Monitoring and assessing
the follow-up  of the  Beijing Platform  for Action  at every  level of  the
country was under way.  In addition, a  national plan for women had evolved,
in part as a result of the coordinated work of NGOs.

  She  said  that  the  present  implementation  of  the  plan  consisted in
consulting the actors in different State  institutions and civil society, in
order to  realize the  Government's wish  to materialize  the principles  of
equality enshrined  in the Constitution.   Also undertaken  was the creation
of a research centre  for women's studies as an additional independent  unit
to provide scientific gender analysis.   An effective strategy to  eliminate
all forms of violence against women and create  new awareness to the problem
was  on  the  Government's  agenda.     Efforts  were  being  made   towards
legislative   reform,   training   and  awareness-raising   in   the  public
administration and  at the decision-making  levels.  An  inter-institutional
approach made it possible  to facilitate the collection of data which  would
classify different forms making it possible to prevent and punish it.

  Tremendous efforts  had also  been made  in the  last three  years by  the
Government in  the legal  field to  incorporate the  principles of  equality
into its laws, she said.  It  was also making tremendous efforts to overcome
poverty, particularly  women's impoverishment, through  training and  access
to  resources.    To  support working  women,  an infant  centre  for female
government employees  was being  established.   Paraguay also supported  the
drafting  of an optional  protocol to the  Convention on  the Elimination of
All  Forms  of Discrimination  against  Women, and  would  like  to  see its
adoption.

  AHMED SNOUSSI  (Morocco)  said that  his  country  sought to  publish  and
disseminate  the   Women's  Anti-Discrimination   Convention  in   languages
accessible  to all its  citizen to  enlighten women  about their  rights and
their access to the  courts.  Morocco's strategy to combat violence  against
women  and  girl  children  included  a  broad  ranging  campaign  to  raise
awareness  of the  damaging effects  of violence.   There was  an exhaustive
study of the problem under way, and a data bank had been established.

  He  said that human  rights education  had improved,  and women's economic
and  social  condition,  as  well  as  their  health  protection,  was being
addressed. The  goal was to  reduce the maternal  mortality by  30 per cent,

and, in that regard,  no-risk maternity and  family planning had been  given
priority  in a programme aimed at  the year 2005.  The  programme targeted a
70  per cent  school attendance  of rural  girls by  the year 2005,  and the
reduction of female illiteracy in rural areas by  50 per cent.  Morocco  had
also embarked  on a national strategy  to educate adults  in order to  renew
literacy programmes  for women, organize study cycles for employed children,
and establish  rules to combat the poor treatment of the  girl child.  Among
the strategy's   recommendations was  the creation  of a  higher council  of
women to be  composed of all ministerial departments, female  organizations,
trade unions and NGOs.

  TERESA   SOLA  (Argentina)   said  a   recent   law  had   encouraged  the
participation  of women  in Parliament.  As  a result, today 27  per cent of
legislators  in the Lower  House of  Parliament were  women.   Argentina had
worked  actively in international  forums to  address the  issues related to
the advancement  of women,  had adopted  national legislation,  and promoted
positive measures to guarantee the empowerment  of women and the  protection
of children. A law  had been adopted on  the prevention of  family violence,
and a special police corps  and special courts had been  formed to deal with
such violence.

  Other  areas in  which Argentina  had  made  progress in  implementing the
Platform for Action included  the inclusion of  women studies in school  and
university curricula; specialized  training for justice and law  enforcement
personnel;  massive  sensitization  of  the  public  on  gender issues;  the
updating of  relevant gender data as  a basis for  policy; and the  improved
treatment  of  victims.   Argentina had  acceded  to the  Convention on  the
Rights  of  the  Child,  had taken  action  to prevent  the  exploitation of
children, and  had developed  a programme  to provide  treatment for  abused
children and adolescents.

  There  was  need  for   a  gender  perspective  in  the  statute  of   the
international  criminal court  and in  international humanitarian  law,  she
said.  Women   must  become  more   effective  participants  in   preventive
diplomacy. Argentine women had participated in  the country's contingents in
United Nations  peacekeeping operations.  She called for  the completion  of
the optional protocol to  the Convention on the  Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination  against Women.   The progress  made so far  in promoting the
advancement of women must be increased in the interest of all women.

  HANNAH TIAGHA, of the Africa Centre for  Women of the Economic  Commission
for Africa (ECA), highlighted some of  her Commission's achievements in  the
last 12 months.  She  said the Africa Centre for  Women was the  focal point
for programmes  for women.   Its work  included increasing awareness  of the
need for systematic  allocation of national resources for implementation  of
the  Platform   for  Action,   and  reinforcing   national  mechanisms   and
machineries responsible for monitoring the Platform  for Action.  The Centre
was  represented on  the cabinet  of  the Commission's  Executive Secretary.
Its highest post had been elevated to the level of D-1 and its  Professional
staff doubled to a total of nine.

  Part of the process of implementation of  the African and Beijing Platform
for Action  had been the  convening of  five technical  meetings to  monitor
implementation of national action  plans, she said.   The first was  held in
November  1997 in Dakar;  subsequent subregional  meetings would  be held in
other countries in Africa in May, July and October this year as  preparatory
work to  the regional  mid-decade review  in 1999.   The ECA  had taken  the
issue of gender mainstreaming very seriously by  requiring every substantive
division to integrate gender concerns in its work programmes.  Gender  focal
points  had been  appointed in  every division and  in the  five subregional
centres of the Commission.  A special event had been planned on the occasion

of  ECA's fortieth anniversary  this  year  to further draw the attention of
decisionmakers at the  highest level to issues related to women and economic

development.

  FATIMA SBAITY KASSEM,  of the  Economic  and Social Commission for Western

Asia (ESCWA),  elaborated on the implementation  of the  Platform for Action
in  that region.  A conference  had been held to prepare  a unified platform
for action on women's  issues for west Asia.   Numerous training  programmes
had been conducted and a gender  disaggregated database was being  developed
on women  in the  region.  The  database had been  a successful  experience.
Symposia had been held on  women in  business and an expert  meeting of NGOs

had been  held  recently.  Action  had been  taken on  gender mainstreaming.

However,  the Commission faced the  major obstacle of insufficient financial

resources to fulfilling its mandate to promote gender issues and programmes.

  TADELECH  HAILEMICHAEL  (Ethiopia) said  that  with  the launching  of the
National  Policy  on  Women  in  1993   and  the  promulgation  of  the  new
Constitution  in 1995,  Ethiopia had  declared  its  firm commitment  to the
equitable socioeconomic development of women.   The women's policy aimed  to
institutionalize  the political,  economic  and  social rights  of women  by
creating appropriate  structures in government  offices and institutions  so
that  public policies  and  interventions were  gender-sensitive  and  could
ensure equitable development for all Ethiopians.

  She  said  Ethiopia believed  that  the  constitutional guarantee  and the
prevalence  of gender-sensitive  policies and  strategies were preconditions
for creating a system for the advancement of women in a sustainable  manner.
Since  the  Beijing  Conference,  the  major   task  had  been  to   enforce
constitutional rights  and implementation  of strategies.   In  that regard,
measures had  been  taken  to  identify  discriminatory  provisions  of  the
Ethiopian civil and criminal laws.

  Ethiopia's efforts to improve the status of women would be enhanced if  it
was  assisted technically,  she said.    Ethiopia, therefore,  requested the
United  Nations funds  and  programmes, as  well as  its  agencies,  and the
international  community  to increase  their  assistance  in  financial  and
technical terms.

  FAHDI KARAM (Lebanon) said that his  country's plan of action consisted of
a number of legislative elements that included plans  to eliminate all texts
incompatible  with the  Women's Anti-Discrimination  Convention.   Regarding
the participation of women in decision-making,  the Government had plans  to
increase  their numbers to  30 per cent by the  year 2000.  Concerning their
economic situation, there were plans  to promote the training of rural women
and support their  participation in economic activities.   On the  status of
women,  there  were plans  to  provide women  with  all  social  and pension
benefits. The  rights of  women to education  involved the  revision of  the
teaching programme and the establishment of  special training programmes and
literacy classes for adults.

  He highlighted reforms  that followed the study  of laws and legal  reform
established for  the implementation of the  Convention.   A married Lebanese
woman  could now  engage autonomously  in  commercial activity  without  the
approval of  her husband.   In addition, the  relevant codes  that had ended
the rights of  women who married foreigners  had been revised,  and campaign
was under way to expand women's  participation in municipal elections, which
were scheduled for next May.

  SAMER A. NABER (Jordan)  said  substantial  progress had been achieved  in
improving  the status  of Jordanian  women,  particularly  in the  fields of
education  and health.    Gender  differences  were rapidly  diminishing  in
women's  education  and  access was  almost  universal  with  primary school
enrolment rates for girls higher than those for boys.  Women comprised  45.1
per  cent  of university  students and  60 per  cent at  community colleges.
Differences in the  literacy rates of women and men were steadily declining.

Government health services for women  had resulted in an increase in women's
life expectancy to  70 years  and a  decrease in  maternal mortality  rates.
However, there was  a need to  focus on reproductive  health programmes  and
approaches to improve access to better health services for women.

  She said the Jordanian National Committee  for Women was planning  various
programmes that  would emphasize the notion  that "women's  rights are human
rights".  It  had also reviewed 10 national laws in order to stress equality
between the sexes enshrined in the constitution and the national charter.

  Jordan reiterated  its condemnation  of all forms of  violence perpetrated
against  women  during  armed  conflict  and   its  support  for  Arab   and
Palestinian  women in their  endeavour to  achieve a  just and comprehensive
peace in the Middle  East, she said.   The  concerns of Jordan's women  were
being actively  pursued by a dynamic  and fast-growing  women's movement and
through  cooperation among the National Committee, government organizations,
NGOs and various women's groups.

  GERARD NAMIREMBE  BITAMAZIRE (Uganda) said  that through the  Constitution
and other legislation, Uganda had put in place deliberate policies to  raise
the  status of  women  and  foster their  emancipation from  socio-economic,
political and  cultural  bondage.   A  decentralized  democracy was  now  in
place.  That constituted  one of  the  strategies to  empower women  and the
grass-roots communities, in general, to plan  and design feasible courses of
action in  addressing critical and daily issues of concern.   Since Beijing,
the  Government  of  Uganda  had  continued  to  play  a  positive  role  in
recognition of the disadvantaged position of women.

  She said that of  grave concern to her delegation was the issue of the law
and punishment for those  who raped and defiled  innocent children.   Female
victims of  sexual assault  and rape  faced risks  from a  myriad of  health
consequences,  including  AIDS  and  other  sexually  transmitted  diseases.
Apart from the brutality and trauma  experienced by victims, there  remained
psychological damage  for life.    It  was Uganda's  hope that  the  current
session  of  the  Commission  could   issue  a  powerful   condemnation  and
appropriate  recommendations to address and prevent the  defilement and rape
of girl children.

  KHANDO CHATZAZANG, NGO Caucus on Women  and Armed  Conflict, said that the

situation of foreign occupation and armed conflict was  often  characterized

by unequal  power relationships.  The Beijing Platform for Action emphasized

the promotion of non-violent conflict resolution and reaffirmed the right to

the self-determination of all peoples.  As the  case of Tibet had demonstra-

ted,  long-standing  conflict and human rights violations  did not disappear

in the absence of international action.  The Tibetan people had engaged in a

campaign  of non-violent action to further their aspirations for fundamental

freedoms  and  human rights.  If such campaigns did not engender the support

of the world community, that would send a  clear message  to all people that

only violence would focus world attention on existing conflicts.

  Speaking on a  point of order, the representative  of China said that  she
believed  that the  topic of  today's discussion  was the  follow-up of  the
Beijing  Conference.  The current speech was in violation of the sovereignty
of countries, and should be stopped.

  The Committee Chairperson said that the non-governmental organization  had
referred to the Beijing Platform and to the specific situation of women  and
armed conflict.   She could continue her  statement, but should contain  her
focus on the topic on today's agenda — which was the situation of women.

  Continuing, Ms.  CHATZAZANG said that the  Asian caucus  region would urge
the  United Nations and  Member States  to encourage  governments engaged in
foreign occupation  and armed conflicts  to negotiate peaceful  resolutions,
and  open territories  without undue  restriction.    She urged  the General
Assembly  to  investigate contested  issues  of  self-determination, appoint
special envoys to promote the peaceful  settlement of conflict, and initiate
referendums to ascertain the wishes of people seeking self-determination.

  On another  point of order,  the representative of  China said that  Tibet
was an integral part  of China, and it  was, therefore, very  regrettable to

hear a  speech at the Commission  by an NGO aimed  at the  division of China
and the attack of a sovereign country.

  The Committee Chairperson said China was out of order, and could  exercise
its right of reply at the end of the meeting.

  ASHA  DAS (India)  said her  country would  like to  associate itself with
Indonesia's statement on behalf of the "Group  of 77" developing country and
China.   India  was taking  a  rights-based  approach to  women's  concerns.
Apart  from  governmental efforts,  the  main  institutional  mechanisms  to
guarantee  and ensure  women's rights  were  the  courts, with  their strong
tradition  of  public   interest  litigation,  the  National  Human   Rights
Commission, the National Commission  for Women, and  the Standing  Committee
on the Empowerment of Women set  up in March 1997.   India was preparing its
report on implementation of  the Convention on the Elimination of All  Forms
of Discrimination  against Women  and  participating in  current efforts  to
conclude  the  optional protocol  providing  for  an  individual  complaints
mechanism.

  Apart from social  attitudes, poverty and  underdevelopment were among the
primary  challenges  to the  human  rights  of women  in  India,  she  said.
Poverty  had  to  be  addressed  through  national   efforts,  supported  by
international  cooperation.   Women's  education,  vocational  training  and
self-employment initiatives,  often with active  participation by NGOs,  and
micro-credit  facilities,  had  been  strengthened.    There  was a  growing
recognition of the need to ensure that women acquired effective rights  over
land  and usufructuary  rights over  other  common  properties.   Given that
access to land  was still the  major source of livelihood,  ensuring women's
rights to land would be a major step in empowering them.

  She said violence against  women needed to be  addressed as a violation of
women's right to a  secure and dignified life.  The National Commission  for
Women had  attracted public attention  to atrocities against women.   It had
initiated an  innovative alternative  system  of "family  courts" to  settle
family  disputes such as  maintenance, separation  and guardianship.   Anti-
dowry  police  cells  had  been  set  up  and   the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act
strengthened.   The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
had  been a  pioneer in  recognizing the special  circumstances of  the girl
child, declaring the 1990s as the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child.

  DALILA SAMAH  (Algeria) said that  Algeria's Constitution enshrined  equal
rights  for men  and women.   However, women  were now the  focus of concern
with public  authorities intent  on promoting  strengthening the  family and
protecting the  situation of women, who  had preserved  the country's values
throughout the ages.

  Algerian women accounted for 45 to 48 per cent of the population  enrolled
in school  at the primary,  middle, upper and  university levels, she  said.
The illiteracy  rate had been  reduced from more  than 80 per  cent in  past
years to less than 40 per cent in 1997.  In addition, the number of women in

the  medical  and  pharmaceutical fields  was  at an all time high.  As full

members of society,  Algerian women  were  involved  in the  campaign for  a

pluralist  democracy.  Their presence in education, in the medical field and

elected  government  bodies  were  a  supreme illustration  of the advancing

struggle.

  She expressed great surprise over the fact that  a country which continued
to  order terrorism  was pointing  to  massacres committed  in a  number  of
countries before attempting to eliminate its  own practice.  Such  terrorism
was a  hideous  beast  which  needed  to  be  fought without ambiguity.  The

convoluted speeches  and  the  absence of  condemnation could  only serve to

encourage  pursuit of that  form of  destruction  and death.  Algerian women

paid a heavy price  because of their religion, which had been a religion  of

tolerance, love and peace.  Those  terrorist groups were  trying to  take an

entire  population  hostage.   Algerian  women  and  the  rest  of  Algerian

society were determined to eliminate that alien phenomenon.

  Ms.  TRAORE  (Mali) said  her country  had  developed a  national plan  of
action after a thorough analysis  of the situation of women in Mali.  Action
had been  taken to implement the Beijing Platform for Action  in a number of
areas, including a review of the education  system, with particular focus on
the girl child in the system; and the  organization of national seminars for
groups  such as  political leaders,  journalists and  television  personnel.
Important progress  had  been made  to sensitize  groups on  issues such  as
parental duties and inheritance.

  She said  the number of women  in the Parliament  had increased in  recent
years, as well as  the number of female  ministers — both  developments had
shown  the political  will to ensure  such participation of  women in public
life.  Other  areas  addressed  included  women  in  the  health  sector, in
education, in  employment, and the practice  of genital  mutilation of young
girls.  The number of  girls in school had increased considerably in Mali in
recent years.   A ministry for women  and children had  been created.   Mali
was  actively    implementing  the  Platform  for  Action.    However,  more
resources were needed to ensure more effective implementation.

  MARIA JONAS  (Austria) welcomed recent high-level appointments of women in
the United Nations Secretariat.   Real equality between  men and women was a
basic democratic condition and an imperative for social justice.  Women  had
been  forced to fight for their rights in a world of  male norms, and it was
important  that they did  more than  just catch  up.   There was need  for a
consistent implementation of  the principles  of gender mainstreaming.   The
State had to provide the necessary environment for gender parity.

  She elaborated on legislative achievements in her country, such as in  the
area of the promotion of women in the civil service.  She  stressed the duty
of men  to share in the responsibilities of the home to remove the idea that
such responsibilities were  the  exclusive  domain of women.  In its role as

President of the European Union in the  latter half  of 1998, Austria  would

jointly  chair an informal council of ministers on questions of equal oppor-

tunity and employment to re-emphasize the principle of gender mainstreaming.

  RAHILA HADEA  CUDJOE (Nigeria) said  the action  taken in  her country  to
implement the Beijing Platform for Action had had outstanding results.   The
family support  programme and other action  taken had  catapulted women into
the  mainstream of  life  in Nigeria.    Nigerian  women  had been  able  to
penetrate "glass  ceilings".   Women holding  high  office had  been in  the
forefront of the  implementation of the Beijing Platform  for Action.  As  a
result, women  were now being projected  into the  mainstream of development
in  Nigeria.  Such  progress could only have  been achieved through federal,
State and international might.

  As  a follow-up to  Beijing, the Platform  for Action  had been translated
into local  languages in Nigeria and circulated widely.   Concrete steps had
been  taken to  integrate women  into  development  programmes at  the local
levels. Much of the  progress made in  the family support programme and  the
recent progress of  women in Nigeria could be  attributed to the First  Lady
of Nigeria. Even women at the grass-root level  were being brought into  the
limelight at  all levels  of government  — local,  State and federal.   The
national machinery,  the active participation of  ministries and the  United
Nations Development  Programme (UNDP) contributed  to the Nigerian report on
the country's implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

  CARLOS ENRIQUE  GARCIA GONZALES (El Salvador)  said he  shared the opinion
expressed by the representative  of Indonesia as Chairman of the Group of 77
and  China regarding critical  areas of  concern emanating  from the Beijing
Conference.   Women had achieved considerable progress by winning a new area

for themselves and advancing the recognition of their human rights.

  He said  that the population  of women in  El Salvador  were divided among
the  rural and urban areas.   As a rule, they tended to marry early and have
many children.   They were also the sole  heads of one third of  Salvadorian
households and routinely suffered the negative impact of the masculine lack
of responsibility in the  home and with respect to parenting.  Education and
health benefits were  seriously limited despite women's increasing  presence
in  the workplace and the national economy.   While many discriminatory laws
had been overcome in  the last few years  during a legislative review, women
still suffered the lack of implementation of those laws.

  Concerning the  four critical areas of  concern, particularly  the area of
violence  against  women,  El  Salvador  had  complied  with  the   proposed
strategic objective, he said.  What remained to  be done was the negotiation
with   the  National   Council   of  Advertising   Agencies   to   eliminate
advertisements that  were  discriminatory to  women.    The Government  also
intended to reinforce the educational curricula  and training methods.   The
Government  was committed  to overcoming  the obstacles and  complying fully
with the strategic  objectives in order to elevate  women's status in a  way
that would  enable  them to  fully  participate  in El  Salvador's  national
development on an equal basis with men.

* *** *
     


Document symbol: WOM/1041
Document Type: Press Release
Document Sources: Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Subject: Women
Publication Date: 06/03/1998
2019-03-12T20:34:25-04:00

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